Concentrating-table.



No. 763,784. PATENTED JUNE 28, 1904.

G. A. OVERSTROM.

.GONGENTRATING TABLE.

APPLIOATIOR FILED JULY 19, 1901. N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES V Patented June 28, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVE A. OVERSTROM, OF ANACONDA, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR TO OVERSTROM (JONOENTRATOR COMPANY, OF BUTTE, MONTANA, A

CORPORATION OF MONTANA.

CONCENTRATlNG-TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 763,784, dated June 28, 1904. Application filed Ju1yl9, 1901. Serial No. 68,958. (No model.)

To ail whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvE A. OVERSTROM, a citizen of the United States, residing at Anaconda, in the county of Deerlodge and State of- Montana, have invented a new and useful.

Concentrating-Table, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to ore-concentrating tables.

The object of the invention is to improve the construction of concentrating-tables whereby a more efiicient separation of mineral from the silica, rock, dirt, and the like is effected.

The invention consists, substantially, in the construction, combination, location, and arrangement of parts, all as will be more fully hereinafter set forth, as shown in the accompanying drawings, and finally pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings and to the various views and reference-signs appearing thereon, Figure 1 is a plan view of a concentrating-table embodying the principles of my invention. Fig. 2 is an edge view, taken from the tailingsdischarge edge or side of the table, lookingfrom-the bottom of Fig. 1, the edge flange or riflie being omitted. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3, Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 4 is an end view looking from the righthand end of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view in cross-section, showing the arrangement of rifl'le on the upper surface of the table. Fig. 6 is a broken view similar to Fig. 3, but on a larger scale. Fig. 7 is a viewin section, taken longitudinally of an ore-concentrating table embodying the principles of my invention and showing the form of reciprocating mechanism therefor.

The same part is designated bythe same reference-sign wherever it occurs throughout the several views.

In the operation of ore-concentrating plants the crushed ore is delivered upon a table to which a reciprocatory movement is imparted and upon which is delivered wash-water, the longitudinal reciprocations imparted to said table serving to effect the advancement of the particles of silica, rock, and mineral along said table, and the mineral portion being heaviest gravitates to the bottom of the mass, is deposited upon the table, and progressed along said table, while the rock portions, the silicate, dirt, and the like are gradually washed away from the mineral portion and are discharged over one edge of the table (which edge I will hereinafter designate the "tailings-discharge edge) along with the wash-water, while the mineral portion is advanced or progressed over the end of the table. In order to prevent the mineral from being washed off with the washwater, it is usual to provide rifiies upon the upper surface of the table, the purpose-and function of which is to form stops to catch and hold the mineral portions, while at the same time permitting the lighter silica, rock, dirt, and the like to wash over the upper or top edges of the riflies. These rifiles have been arranged in various ways, and rifiles of various shapes in cross-section have been employed for this purpose.

My present invention relates particularly to a construction and arrangement of rifiies; and the special object in view is to insure as complete a separation of the silica, rock, dirt, and the like as possible from the mineral without the danger of losing any of the mineral by the same being washed off or away with the washwater which carries the silica, rock, 620., and while I have shown and will now describe a particular construction and arrangement of table I desire it to be understood that my in- .vention is not limited in this application to a table of the specific construction shown, but is equally well adapted for use with other types and constructions of tables.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, reference-sign A designates the table, which is of quadrangular shape that is, the sides or edges thereof are parallel with each other and the ends thereof are parallel with each other; but the sides, as shown, are inclined with respect to the ends.

B designates generally the riflics. These rifiies are arranged in the particular form shown, and preferably to extend parallel each other and substantially at right angles to the ends and diagonally to the sides or edges of the table. In practice reciprocatory movements are imparted to the table substantially in the direction of length of the riffles-that is, in a diagonal direction with respect to the table. I have shown an illustrative form of means for imparting such reeiprocatory movements to the table. In the form of apparatus for imparting reciprocatory movements to the table shown reference-sign A designates a shaft to which is eccentrically connected an arm B carrying a bearing-block (J A block D is journaled in said bearing-block and a 00- operating stationary bearing-block E so that when shaft A is rotated the end of said arm B describes an orbital movement. The free end of said arm B is connected in suitable manner to the table A. The construction and arrangement of this reciprocating mechanism is more fully described and claimed in my pending application, Serial No. 38,435,'filed December 3, 1900. It is obvious that any suitable form of reciprocating mechanism may be employed. Such mechanism in the specific details of construction thereof forms no part of my present invention.

The crushed ore is in practice deposited upon the table at the point K. WVash-water is supplied along the edge C D and by reason of the component of forces due to the reciprocatory movements imparted to the table about in the diagonal line from E to D and the flow of wash-water transversely across the table from the edge C D the ore is progressed toward the end D F, while at the same time the mineral portion settles to the bottom or upon the surface of the table and the lighter silica, rock, dirt, or the like is washed over the top edges of the riffles B by the washwater and is discharged along the edge E F, the mineral portion being discharged along the edge D F. In practice each succeeding rifile after the one terminating at the corner E and on each side thereof is slightly less in height above the surface of the table than the one immediately preceding it; but adiagonal line parallel-with the line H F will cut the llfflBS at points of uniform height. The object of this is to insure an even and uniform spreading out of the ore over the entire surface of the table, thereby enabling every portion of the table to perform its proper part of the concentrating-work. Thus, as viewed in Fig. 2, (which is an edge view looking from the bottom of Fig. 1 toward the edge E F,) the ends of the riffies shown in end view at the left-hand side of Fig. 2 are of greater height than the riffies shown in end view at the righthand end of said figure, each succeeding riffie being slightly lower than the immediatelypreceding riflie. This is also. shown in Fig. 4, which is a view looking from the right of Fig. 1 along the end D F, the rifiie shown at the right of said figure being of greater height than those at the left-hand end of said figure. The rifiles, as above specified, extend. diagonally with respect to the table, and those which terminate along the end D F extend all the way to the end of the table, and those which would otherwise intersect the edge 0 D terminate a short distance from said edge, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. Each rifile, in accordance with the principles of my invention, is of decreasing height from the left-hand end thereof toward the right-hand end to a point indicated at L, Fig. 3, and from thence to a point indicated at M, Fig. 3, the height of the riffle remains substantially uniform and slightly above the top surface of the table, and from the point M to the extreme right-hand end the rifiie increases in height to the point N, Fig. 3. The point L of each riffle is somewhat nearer the edge D F than the corresponding point of the preceding riffle. Consequently the dotted lines H F and J G, Fig. 1, indicate the line of the straight parallel surfaces of the riffies between the points L M, and which portions of the riflie extend only a very slight distance above the topsurface of the table. The special purpose of this arrangement is to provide means for insuring a complete and efiicient concentration of the mineral and the elimination of the dirt, rock, silica, and the like therefrom. Thus when the mineral reaches the point L, for instance, in the length of a riflie there is still provided a ledge for retaining mineral; but the height of such ledge is not sufiicient to prevent any silicate or rock to be washed over, but is of sufficient extent to prevent the mineral from being carried over the top edge thereof, and even if some particles of mineral are carried over the depressed portion L M of one riifle they will be caught by the projecting edge of the next succeeding riffie and progressed somewhat farther toward the end D F of the table before it reaches the depression L M of the next succeeding rifile,

and after the depression L M of any riffie is passed by any mineral it is desirable to provide against any further wash over the top edge of the rifitle, for at that period a complete separation of the silica, rock, 620., from the mineral has been effected. In other words, whatever portions of the rock, silica, and the like which have not been separated and washed away from the mineral will be separated and washed away at the lowest portions LM of the riffies, and after passing the point M of any riflie the rifiie increases in height, so as to insure against any particle of the mineral being washed over. It will be understood that when the crushed ore is first supplied upon the surface of the table at the pointK it partially lodges against the first riffle, a portion of the crushed material washing over the top edge of the first riflle and being caught by the next succeeding riflie, and so on, at the same time being progressed lengthwise of the first riflie and finally falling silica, rock, and the like from the mineral and also.to prevent too much of the water from flowing over the edge D F of the table along with the mineral, I prefer to slightly raise the surface of the table adjacent to said edge. This result may be accomplished in many ways. A simple way is shown most clearly in Fig. 6, wherein a tapering or wedgeshaped piece A is inserted underneath the linoleum lining B of the table-surface, the thickened portion of the wedge being presented toward the edge D F of the table. The piece A tapers not only in a direction away from and normal to the edge D F, but also in a direction parallel with said edge in order to diminish the height of the raised portion or surface of the table toward the extreme lower corner of the table. This raised portion begins immediately beyond the seats or depressions in the rifles, the bounds of which are indicated by the lines J Gr and H F and continues to the extreme end of the table, and in order that the rifles may not be raised a too great height above the surface of the table said rifles toward the ends thereof may be slightly. reduced in height to compensate for the wedge-blocks, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The purpose of this construction is to prevent the possibility of any silica, rock, or the like or too much water being carried over the end of the table. The'silica, rock, water, and the like being lighter than the mineral will not travel up the inclined surface of the table near the end thereof, while the momentum of the mineral under the impetus of the reciprocations of the table will cause the mineral to travel up the incline. Therefore the silica. rock, water, or the like is retarded and caused to be washed away toward the tailings-d elivery edge of the table, while the mineral is fed or progressed on over the edge D F of the table and over the extending apron C of the linoleum. This I regard as a valuable feature of my invention.

The rifles,as above stated, may be of any suitable or convenient shape in cross-section. In Fig. 5 I have shown the construction of rifle which I have found suitable, comprising an angle-strip somewhat inclined in the direction of flow of the wash-water delivered upon the table along the edge 0 Dthat is, the rifles incline somewhat toward the tailings-delivery edge E Fthe direction of transverse flow of the wash-water being indicated by the arrow in Fig. 5. I do not desire, however, to be limited to this specific shape in cross-section of the rifle, as other specific shapes in cross-section of rifles may equally well answer the purpose. In practice I prefer to employ a flange or rifle (indicated at N) along the upper edge from D to C of In order the table, along the end from'C to E, and along the tailings-discharge edge from E to F, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The flange or rifle extending from E to F is omitted in the view shown in Fig. 2, and in practice this edge or flange should be of decreasing height from the corner E toward the corner F and corresponding in height to the height of the riflesthat is, corresponding to the decrease in height of the rifles, as viewed in Fig. 2.

Variations and changes in the specific details of construction and arrangement would readily occur to persons skilled in the art and still fall within the spirit and scope of my invention. I do not desire, therefore, to be limited or restricted to the exact details of construction shown and described; but,

Having now set forth the object and nature of my invention and a construction embodying the principles thereof, what I claim as new and useful and of my own invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An ore-concentrating table having an open discharge end, rifles arranged upon the surface of said table and extending toward said open discharge end, each of said rifles having a depressed portion and elevated or raised portions on each side of the depressed portion, the depressed portion being formed therein between the ends of the rifles, and means for.reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said rifles, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. An ore-concentrating table having an open discharge end provided with rifles, arranged upon the surface of said table and extending toward said open discharge end, each of said rifles being of decreasing height for a portion of the length thereof and increasing in height at the extreme end thereof, and means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said rifle, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. An ore-concentrating table, an open discharge end provided with rifles arranged upon the surface of said table and extending toward said open discharge end, eachrifle having a portion of its length of uniform height, and increasing in height from said portion of uniform height toward the respective ends thereof, and means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said rifles, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with a concentratingtable, of rifles mounted on the upper surface of said table and extending diagonally of said. table, said rifles being of decreasing height for a portion, and in the direction of, the length thereof, and of increasing height for another portion of the length thereof, and means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said rifles, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The combination with a concentratingtable, of rifles mounted on the upper surface thereof and extending parallel with respect to each other, each of said rifles provided with a portion of uniform height and increasing in height toward the respective ends thereof from said portion of uniform height, thereby forming a seat or depression, the seat or depression formed in one rifle being somewhat in advance of or nearer the end of the table than the seat or depression formed in the preceding rifle, means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of the riffies, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a concentratingtable having parallel sides and parallel ends,

' allel relation with respect to each other and substantially at right angles of said table, said rifles decreasing in height for a portion of the length thereof and increasing in height for a portion of the remaining length thereof, and means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said rifles, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. A concentrating-table having rifles upon the upper surface thereof, a covering or lining interposed between the rifles and table, and a wedge-block interposed between said table and covering to form an upwardly-inclined surface at the mineral-delivery end of the table, and means for reciprocating the table in the direction of the length of said rifles, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. A concentrating-table having a covering or lining for the upper surface thereof, and a block interposed between said cover and table adjacent to the mineral-delivery end of the latter, in combination with rifles arranged on said table-covering, said block being tapered lengthwise with respect to said rifles to form an upwardly-inclined surface at the mineraldelivery edge of the table, and means for reciprocating the table in the direction of the length of said rifles, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. A concentrating-table having rifles arranged to extend in the direction of the length of the table, in combination with a block arrangedv adjacent to the mineral-delivery end of said table, said block being tapered both lengthwise and transversely with respect to the length of said rifles to form an upwardlyinclined surface at the mineral-delivery end of the table, and means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said riffles, as and for the purpose set forth.

10. The combination with a concentratingtable having parallel sides and parallel ends, said ends being inclined with respect to said sides, of rifles mounted on the upper surface of said table, said rifles being parallel with respect to each other and inclined to the sides and substantially at right angles to the ends of the table, and means for reciprocating said table in the direction of the length of said riffles, as and for the purpose set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand, this 2d day of July, 1901, in the presence of the subscribing witnesses.

GUSTAVE A. OVERSTROM.

Witnesses:

CHAS. H. SEEM, S. E. DARBY. 

